Saloni Daini on why she took a break from TV and reality shows: 'Being a kid in comedy circus, doing night shifts, performing 12 pages of scripts in one take had become stressful'

Saloni Daini on why she took a break from TV and reality shows: 'Being a kid in comedy circus, doing night shifts, performing 12 pages of scripts in one take had become stressful'

Saloni Daini became one of Indian television’s most recognizable child performers. Her quick wit, expressive timing, and effortless presence in comedy shows made her a household name. But after years of being in front of the camera, Saloni stepped away. The decision wasn’t sudden and it wasn’t because of any negative incident. It came from exhaustion and the need to breathe.

Saloni explains that her childhood career was full of memorable and happy moments. Yet, as she grew older, the pressure to constantly perform and deliver perfection began to weigh on her. What the audience saw on screen was laughter and playfulness. But behind the scenes, the schedule, the expectations, and the responsibility were far more intense — especially for a child.

In her own words, she told Moneycontrol.com, "When I was working as a child, I didn't have a bad experience. So I won't say anything like that. But there were good days and bad days too. But the work I did at that time or the comedy I did, I've seen a very different life. That was like, we weren't expecting any of that. It just happened and we kept doing it. At that time, I didn't give a lot of auditions."

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Saloni further added, "I gave an audition for Chote Miya and after that, I started working. But then I had to take a break because it was very stressful for me. Being a kid in a comedy circus, doing night shifts or performing 12 pages of scripts in one take, I was doing it till I was enjoying it. But then I had to bring that perfection in me. I had to watch the judges and see their reactions. It was very stressful. I used to look for reasons when I used to go on set. What should I say today? Should I not perform today? We knew that we had to stop it. But then I knew that I had to continue in this industry. So now I'm back with a fresh mindset. It's not a burnout. But I know that life was very different when people were around you. When you're famous, a lot of people reach out to you. Now, that's not the scenario. You have to start from point one and then move everything again.

So it's a very different journey and a very different feeling altogether now."

Her break wasn’t a goodbye. It was a reset. She needed distance to understand herself beyond the stage persona she had carried since childhood.

Today, Saloni returns with a clearer understanding of who she is and what kind of work she wants to do. Instead of rushing, she is rebuilding — slowly, thoughtfully, and on her own terms. Her journey now is not about chasing the fame she once had, but about growing into her craft with grounding and purpose.